Betrayal
- Meeko Melodie
Meeko: Hi! Everyone, this is it! I really want to thank you for all the comments you have send me. They're great! Now the finale!
Chapter 9: Memory of a Song
The day before the competition, Kouji couldn't help it anymore. He ran to the Orimoto's house in the morning, trying to look for Zoe and gave her the ticket to the competition. But when he reached there, he hesitated again. He stood in front of the door, thinking about what he should say to her. However, the door was opened before he could think of what he should say.
Friday 4:45pm
Zoe was still lying on the sofa, staring at the ticket. If she wanted to go, she should get moving right now, or she would be late. Five minutes had passed, Zoe couldn't stand it, she had to go. She quickly put on her shoes, got her keys, put the ticket and a few coins in her pocket and she was on her way to the bus stop."Come on," Zoe muttered, looking at the watch every five seconds or so. A bus finally pulled up the bus stop and Zoe sprinted up the bus and put the coins into the barrier. She had only five minutes now, she wasn't going to make it on time!
Tokyo Performing Centre
Kouji was sitting in the front row where all the contestants were supposed to sit, with Miss Kaiyami at his side. He looked around the audience and spotted his friends in one of the middle rows, but no Zoe. Kouji sighed heavily."What is it?" Miss Kaiyami asked caringly."Nothing," Kouji lied."Just relax," Miss Kaiyami encouraged him," and have fun." Kouji nodded.
In the bus
Zoe was sitting on the bus, impatiently, as the bus moved slowly down the traffic jam."Hurry up," Zoe mumbled under her breath and said," stupid traffic jam!"
Tokyo Performing Centre
"Welcome to the Chopin Piano Competition 2003!" a man said on the stage. Behind him was the jet black grand piano."First of all, let me introduce our five judges this year," he said. "From left to right: Mr. Miyoki, Mr. Shinakiwa, Miss. Yomaki, Mrs. Valerie and Mr. Smith," the man introduced. The audience clapped as each one of them stood up."All right," the man continued," our first contestant: Naomi Kasuki, playing Fantasy in F minor." The audience clapped again as a long haired girl walk up the stage and bowed. The competition had begun.
Still in the bus
"Argh," Zoe was grinding her teeth with annoyance, as the bus was still moving through the busy traffic."Excuse me," Zoe shouted to the driver," can I get down from here?""Sure," the driver shrugged and let her get down in the middle of the road. Zoe ran as fast as her legs could carry her and down the main road, trying to find the Tokyo Performing Centre.
Back at Tokyo Performing Centre
"Our next contestant: Ryo Akiyama, playing Piano Concerto in E minor."
"Ryo Akiyama?" Kouji said under his breath, puzzled. A brown haired boy wearing a black shirt with a tie walked out. It's the same Ryo all right; he still wore that smirk across his face as he walked on the stage."You know Ryo Akiyama?" Miss. Kaiyami asked."Not very well, but we've met," Kouji whispered as Ryo bowed and walked to the piano."Well, he's basically the one you have to beat," Miss. Kaiyami explained," he is a natural at piano and so are you (Meeko: Or is he?)." Kouji looked surprise. A flirty guy like Ryo Akiyama could actually play the piano and in this case, better than he was. But Miss Kaiyami was right; Ryo could play the piano and well. He was suddenly serious in front of the piano as he pressed down the musical keys; it was like he was another person.
On the road
"Where is this Tokyo Performing Centre?" Zoe muttered, looking around all the buildings around her."Um. . ." Zoe asked a lady," excuse me, but do you know where Tokyo Performing Centre is?"
And back at the Tokyo Performing Centre
Ryo had played his song, the audience clapped really hard but most of them were actually girls. Ryo put on his brilliant smile, bowed and walked down the stairs off the stage."Thank you. The next contestant is Minami Goldsmith, who is going to play Polonaise in A Flat Major." A blond hair girl walked up shakily, her face pale and she looked like she might be sick anytime.
On the road again
"Thank you," Zoe said to the woman who had told her where the performing centre is."Straight ahead," Zoe muttered to herself, trying to get the right direction," then go right and the white building on the left is the one." She walked and voila (Meeko: Sorry! French: there it is)! There it was, the white building with silver gleaming letters saying "Tokyo Performing Centre". She hurried up the stairs and ran inside.
"Thank you. Our next contestant is Kouji Minamoto, who is going to play Prelude in B Minor for us.""That's him, guys," Takuya said excitedly."We know that," Kouichi whispered," now shut up and listen."Kouji shivered at the call of his name. Miss Kaiyami patted his shoulder and said," I'm waiting for the miracle." Kouji nodded with assurance. He walked down the isle with his back straight with confidence and up the stairs on the stage. Kouji then faced the audience, and trying his best to look for Zoe but he couldn't see her. At that moment, he felt like he had lost everything. He bowed, looked over at the audience again, still didn't see her and walked to the piano. He shifted the bench with a familiar jerk and sat down. He closed his eyes, put his hands over the black and white key board when suddenly, a squeaky sound was heard. Kouji turned his head abruptly to look.The door was opened and the darkened room was enlightened suddenly by a white light and standing there was Zoe!Zoe stood there, looking at the stage and even though it was a long way, they met each other's eyes. Kouji once again got his attention back to the piano, but this time, there were someone within himself and he knew he could do this.Kouji took a deep breath and thundered down the keys. His back was straight and formal, with his eyes half closed, as if he were listening to something in a distance. As Kouji was playing, his heart was only thinking about Zoe. His brain flashed the images of his memory: the first time he met Zoe in the Digital World, his confession of love to Zoe when they were back to the real world, their first tenderly, sweet kiss, Zoe sleeping peacefully on his shoulders, the anger and fury when he witnessed Zoe's kiss with Kouichi, the argument on the beach, the song he played for her to end their relationship and his empty feeling without her by his side.These feelings were all poured out from himself into the keys and into music it produced. The song that he played it out had a recurring note of sadness, but there was sweetness, too. And the feeling of gentleness.Now sitting in the audience, Zoe was listening to Kouji. As the song end, there was a silence, as if everything was still. All of a sudden, the room was roaring with claps from all over the audience and they all stood up to applause. This is the best song they have ever heard and they showed their appreciation by clapping and cheering. Zoe just sat there, rigid on her seat as all around her, people were applauding loudly.This meant only one thing: Kouji Minamoto had won!
After the Competition
Kouji ran up to the audience to find his friends and especially Zoe."Hey, congratulations, Kouji," Takuya said."Yea, congrads," Tommy added"Kouji," Kouichi started. Kouji looked at his brother stiffly, but gave him the tiniest smile."Thanks, guys. Where's Zoe?" Kouji asked the three."Not sure," Takuya replied, "I just saw her somewhere at the back." He pointed at the back seats. "Maybe she had already gone."
Kouji quickly ran to the exit, but he couldn't see her anywhere. In desolation, Kouji walked back inside to the awards ceremony.
Zoe had left after the competition so she wouldn't have to talk to him face to face. She rode the bus back home.Back at Kouji's Home
Kouji went home with the plane ticket safely pocketed in his coat. His parents were not home, again. His parents didn't even bother to see him in the competition. Heaving a sigh, Kouji went up to his room. He paced around his room thinking: why did Zoe have to leave so early? She came to see him and that was enough proof for him that Zoe still loved him. Finally, Kouji decided to write Zoe a letter, since he would be leaving on Sunday. (Meeko: Yup, 2 days left)
Sunday
Zoe woke up from her bed and rubbing her eyes lazily. She had a bad feeling something would happened. But didn't know what it was, she walked down the stairs woozily to make herself some breakfast. When she reached down the kitchen, her mother was already sitting there, a pink envelop in her hand."What is it?" Zoe asked with interest."It's for you," her mother said and handed the envelop to her. Zoe looked at it curiously. It was indeed addressed to her. She opened the envelop with care, in case it was something important. A letter fell out from it; Zoe picked it up to read:
Zoe:
I'm sorry. I really am. I'm sorry for the way I had treated you these few weeks. I guess I didn't mean half the things I said. But I just can't. . .I don't know how to express it. . . Anyways, I'm really glad that you can make it on Friday. Did you mean to see me, or did you just want to listen to the competition?
By this time, I'm already on the airplane to England. You might hate me for leaving without telling you until now or you might not even care. Or. . . you might already have a new boyfriend. . .
O man, what am I talking about? After I played that song, I figured I could just move on and get over you. But the truth is: I can't. I need you, Zoe, and I hope you know that you're the most important person in my life, no matter what.
And in case you still want to see me, meet me at the entrance of Yakohema beach in two years at this very same day.
I miss you.
Love,
Kouji
Zoe put the letter back into the envelop. She walked back to her room and put it carefully into the drawer of her desk, feeling graved but at the same time, idyllic.
The End
Meeko: How is it? I know, it's neither a sad ending nor a happy ending, but hey, you can just imagine what's going to happen next.
Bye, everybody! See you next time!